We are heartbroken about the shootings and pray that our loved ones with brain illness never commit such horrific crimes. We have few alternatives, however, when our family members cycle between homelessness, delusional thinking, hospitalization and incarceration.

Adopting Laura’s Law would provide a preventive approach to support individuals who refuse treatment. It could make the city’s and county’s recently-funded program of Whole Person Care more effective.

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The professor was belligerent and confrontational toward police when was asked for identification. If everybody obeyed police orders there would be fewer arrests and unfortunate incidents during arrests.

Who did they want to win the election, someone who took their millions? And then those same Russians supposedly broke into the DNC emails to only exposed exactly what the DNC wrote to each other. Wow, that’s really evil.

John Kerhlikar, Shingle Springs

Colin Kaepernick

Re “Colin Kaepernick” (Letters, Nov. 12): I want to offer a salute to letter writer George Meyers for his thoughtful letter regarding Colin Kaepernick. His is the first thing I have read about the issue kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem before the start of football games.

Meyers recognizes Kaepernick for exercising his First Amendment rights. Kaepernick has not made any derogatory statements against the people who criticize him as do those who speak badly about him. I am a 90-plus-year-old man who served in the Navy during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and I firmly stand behind Kaepernick even if I do not agree with him. We both have the right to our opinions as long as we do not harm anyone.

I have seen others who are more disrespectful to our flag during the playing of the anthem. Just look around the “fans” in attendance. Some are not standing, some have not removed their hats, some are guzzling their beers.

The Balkanization of American politics can be largely traced to that decision. If Fox News and Clear Channel (think Rush), were not the seamless echo chambers they have become, Republicans would not control Congress and the presidency.

The GOP-controlled FCC just acted to permit corporate conglomerates to gobble up even more of the media. Conservative media corporations such as Sinclair Broadcasting plan to snatch up multiple stations in one market.

The public airwaves belong to every American. A variety of points of view should be available everywhere. An updated fairness doctrine would serve us all.

Al Franklin, Auburn

All men pay

Re “Are all men really pigs? Or does it just seem that way lately?” (Forum, Nov. 19): It’s hard as hell being “a decent guy” in our culture of the past 25 years or so. And God do I celebrate deserving women coming forward to call out the disrespectful, vulgar actions of many men. Yet, as Erika Smith brilliantly depicted, behavioral standards are fraught with conflicting mores, opinions and power structures. The pigs harm women without remorse. Everyone else suffers as we try to learn the “rules” around “flirting,” “joking around” (best to leave out any ladies when telling a joke, gentlemen – how’s that for a positive work environment?), and even the rules around managing a subordinate. It’s impossible to legislate morality. Rules and laws create anxiety, isolation and disengagegment. We have to supprt victims’ rights, and continue to teach our children that men and women are equals, and that true power only comes in respectful, inclusionary communication with all genders.

Mitch Darnell, Sacramento

Arts support

Re “Greta Gerwig’s ‘Lady Bird’ raises a question: Is Sacramento more talented than we thought?” (Editorial, Nov. 19): I am happy to see The Bee challenge our city to support local artists. However, I have noticed that you have cut down quite a bit on your coverage of local arts. There are many local writing, author readings, and arts events that The Bee does not report on. If you can give a whole section to sports every day, then can you back up your words and give more than a nod to the arts?